All Glory is Fleeting

It is said that General George S. Patton often told a story of Roman Triumphs to convey a prophetic warning about the fleeting nature of glory.

The story goes: For thousands of years, Roman conquerors were honored, upon return from victories in foreign lands, with a triumph—a ceremonial parade through the streets of the city. The glorious spectacle was not merely intended as an honor for the victor, but also to celebrate the tremendous power of Rome and its people. The procession was led by the soldiers of the victorious army followed by many subjugated enemy warriors—often bloodied and in chains. Behind them rode the revered leader in a magnificently adorned chariot. Standing in the chariot, behind the conquering hero was one captive usually dressed in a white tunic, continuously whispering in the exultant hero’s ear: “Sic transit gloria mundi,” quite literally “Thus passes the glory of the world.” A sobering reminder that the magnificent sensation of victory cannot last.

Perhaps these words should also serve a warning to those who believe that American world dominance is ever-lasting.

Ghost Fleet, by P.W. Singer and August Cole, was released at the end of June and it should immediately be placed at the top of all military and national security policymaker’s reading lists. While the reviews of this novel are widely available online (a couple of links below), I won’t deliver any destructive spoilers if you haven’t read it yet.


Reviews and Press:
Interview from The Economist
Review from The Diplomat
Review from Foreign Policy

Using the customary comprehensive technology appreciation exhibited in Wired for War, Singer and Cole tell the story of the next world war where once again the lack of imagination that plagued pre-9/11 US defense experts brings dramatic consequences.

Get it, read it, think seriously about its warning—all glory is fleeting.

Sic transit gloria mundi.

The Horror, the horror...

In Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, we're introduced to Mr. Kurtz, a dark, demented ivory trader who has lost his mind and 'gone native'--committing unspeakable acts, while he exploits the native population. Hooray for colonialism!

But, simply saying that Kurtz has become a savage and implying that all African tribesman act this way, is unfair and really quite racist, since he is obviously embodying the worst of Africa, not the ordinary.

See: Racism in the Heart of Darkness

In Coppola's Apocalypse Now, a film set in Vietnam and based on Conrad's book, General Corman sums up what war has done to Colonel Kurtz. Corman said, 

“In this war, things get confused out there—power, ideals, the old morality, and practical military necessity . . . because there’s a conflict in every human heart between the rational and the irrational, between good and evil. And good does not always triumph.”

Here Corman blames Kurtz's actions on the environmental effects that war has on the human soul and psyche. But, is there really a good vs. evil conflict in each of us? This is a truly dark and terrible thing to think about, but perhaps its enlightening in lieu of the actions of humanities worst.

Coppola tries to get at the root of what Conrad introduced as 'the horror' through the film's antagonist Colonel Kurtz. And I think Marlon Brando, who plays Kurtz, provides a outstanding performance, which helps explain the heart of darkness. He distills his actions down to the essence of wartime necessity--that judgement defeats us if we let it, so we must overcome it and do what's necessary to win.

Here's some audio from the movie--Brando at his best:




I, for one, disagree and hope that our judgement brings us victory in this life not defeat. But, perhaps I'm just a starry-eyed dreamer. 

No matter what, I still feel, that how we win matters.

Podcast Test

In today's post I'm testing embedding Podcasts...

So here you go...enjoy a good song.

Worst Day Ever?

I saw this and thought it was pretty clever...
Enjoy!


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Worst Day Ever?

Today was the absolute worst day ever.

And don't try to convince me that
There's something good in every day
Because, when you take a closer look,
This world is a pretty evil place.
Even if
Some goodness does shine through once in a while
Satisfaction and happiness don't last.
And it's not true that
It's all in the mind and heart
Because
True happiness can be attained
Only if one's surroundings are good
It's not true that good exists
I'm sure you can agree that
The reality
Creates
My attitude
It's all beyond my control
And you'll never in a million years hear me say
Today was a very good day.


Now read it from bottom to top, the other way,
And see what I really feel about my day.

--Chanie Gorkin

Strategy

Strategy is artful design driven by observation and reflection—formulating ways to improve position based on perceived opportunities and threats.

All conflict is comparison.

Precise comparison requires analytical skill and mindfulness.

Analytic skill requires study and practice—it enables enhanced observation.

Superior observation delivers awareness of self and environment.

Awareness pinpoints opportunities and threats—enabling action and producing leverage.

Leverage leads to success in conflict. 

Other ideas: http://usacac.army.mil/cac2/CGSC/events/sams/ArtofDesign_v2.pdf

It Begins with Peace in the Heart

If there is to be peace in the world,
There must be peace in the nations.

If there is to be peace in the nations,
There must be peace in the cities.

If there is to be peace in the cities,
There must be peace between neighbors.

If there is to be peace between neighbors,
There must be peace in the home.

If there is to be peace in the home,
There must be peace in the heart.

-- Lao Tzu

The Question

So a conversation with a cherished long-time friend this morning sparked a little metaphysical reflection...

Why are we here? 

Are we here to discover our true selves? 

Are we here to help others discover who they really are? 

Are we here to remember things our souls have long forgotten? 

Are we here to choose sides in some biblical battle of good versus evil? 

Are we really spiritual beings having a human experience and not human beings have a spiritual experience as Pierre Teilhard De Chardin suggests?

Are we here to ask these questions of ourselves or accept the answers presented by others?



More questions to ponder:
http://www.livereal.com/spiritual_arena/why_are_we_here.htm

Perspective

When things get too busy down here...change your perspective.

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/live-iss-stream

Philosophy versus Science

When I was younger and less mindful, I studied science in search of all the right answers. Now that I am older and more reflective, I study philosophy in search of the right questions.



Here's some:
http://philosophy.hku.hk/think/phil/101q.php

Specialization

A Human Being should be able to change a diaper,

plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship,
design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts,

build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying,

take orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations,

analyze a new problem, pitch manure,

program a computer, cook a tasty meal,

fight efficiently, and die gallantly.

Specialization is for insects!

--Robert Heinlein, Time Enough for Love

Policy

Start with a cage containing five apes.

In the cage, hang a banana on a string and put stairs under it.  Before long, an ape will go to the stairs and start to climb towards the banana. As soon as he touches the stairs, spray all of the apes with cold water.  After a while, another ape makes an attempt with the same result - all the apes are sprayed with cold water. This continues through several more attempts. Pretty soon, when another ape tries to climb the stairs, the other apes all try to prevent it.

Now, turn off the cold water. Remove one ape from the cage and replace it with a new one. The new ape sees the banana and wants to climb the stairs. To his horror, all of the other apes attack him.  After another attempt and attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the stairs, he will be assaulted.   Next, remove another of the original five apes and replace it with a new one. The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked. The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment with enthusiasm. Again, replace a third original ape with a new one. The new one makes it to the stairs and is attacked as well. Two of the four apes that beat him have no idea why they were not permitted to climb the stairs, or why they are participating in the beating of the newest ape.

After replacing the fourth and fifth original apes, all the apes, which have been sprayed with cold water, have been replaced.  Nevertheless, no ape ever again approaches the stairs. Why not?Because that’s the way they’ve always done it and that’s the way it’s always been around here.

And that’s how company policy begins....

Source: unknown

Through a Glass, Darkly

Through the travail of the ages,
Midst the pomp and toil of war,
I have fought and strove and perished
Countless times upon this star.

In the form of many people
In all panoplies of time
Have I seen the luring vision
Of the Victory Maid, sublime.

I have battled for fresh mammoth,
I have warred for pastures new,
I have listed to the whispers
When the race trek instinct grew.

I have known the call to battle
In each changeless changing shape
From the high souled voice of conscience
To the beastly lust for rape.

I have sinned and I have suffered,
Played the hero and the knave;
Fought for belly, shame, or country,
And for each have found a grave.

I cannot name my battles
For the visions are not clear,
Yet, I see the twisted faces
And I feel the rending spear.

Perhaps I stabbed our Savior
In His sacred helpless side.
Yet, I've called His name in blessing
When after times I died.

In the dimness of the shadows
Where we hairy heathens warred,
I can taste in thought the lifeblood;
We used teeth before the sword.

While in later clearer vision
I can sense the coppery sweat,
Feel the pikes grow wet and slippery
When our Phalanx, Cyrus met.

Hear the rattle of the harness
Where the Persian darts bounced clear,
See their chariots wheel in panic
From the Hoplite's leveled spear.

See the goal grow monthly longer,
Reaching for the walls of Tyre.
Hear the crash of tons of granite,
Smell the quenchless eastern fire.

Still more clearly as a Roman,
Can I see the Legion close,
As our third rank moved in forward
And the short sword found our foes.

Once again I feel the anguish
Of that blistering treeless plain
When the Parthian showered death bolts,
And our discipline was in vain.

I remember all the suffering
Of those arrows in my neck.
Yet, I stabbed a grinning savage
As I died upon my back.

Once again I smell the heat sparks
When my Flemish plate gave way
And the lance ripped through my entrails
As on Crecy's field I lay.

In the windless, blinding stillness
Of the glittering tropic sea
I can see the bubbles rising
Where we set the captives free.

Midst the spume of half a tempest
I have heard the bulwarks go
When the crashing, point blank round shot
Sent destruction to our foe.

I have fought with gun and cutlass
On the red and slippery deck
With all Hell aflame within me
And a rope around my neck.

And still later as a General
Have I galloped with Murat
When we laughed at death and numbers
Trusting in the Emperor's Star.

Till at last our star faded,
And we shouted to our doom
Where the sunken road of Ohein
Closed us in it's quivering gloom.

So but now with Tanks a'clatter
Have I waddled on the foe
Belching death at twenty paces,
By the star shell's ghastly glow.

So as through a glass, and darkly
The age long strife I see
Where I fought in many guises,
Many names, but always me.

And I see not in my blindness
What the objects were I wrought,
But as God rules o'er our bickerings
It was through His will I fought.

So forever in the future,
Shall I battle as of yore,
Dying to be born a fighter,
But to die again, once more.

--General George S. Patton, Jr.